Contactless communications using ferromagnetic material

ABSTRACT

A communications structure comprises a first semiconductor substrate having a first coil, and a second semiconductor substrate having a second coil above the first semiconductor substrate. Inner edges of the first and second coils define a boundary of a volume that extends below the first coil and above the second coil. A ferromagnetic core is positioned at least partially within the boundary, such that a mutual inductance is provided between the first and second coils for wireless transmission of signals or power between the first and second coils.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit having anon-chip inductor for contactless communication.

BACKGROUND

A 3D package contains two or more integrated circuits (ICs) stackedvertically so that they occupy less space. Connections between thevertically stacked ICs may be made using through-silicon-vias (TSV),which pass through the entire thickness of a die, permitting connectionsbetween conductive patterns on the front face and back face of the die.The resulting package has no added length or width. Because nointerposer is required, a 3D package using TSVs can be flatter than anedge-wired 3D package.

For 3D IC, power TSV are typically used for transferring power. Theprocessing steps to form TSVs increase the cost of fabricating the IC.In addition, there is an area penalty for adding these TSVs, because thespace occupied by the TSVs cannot be used for any other circuitry.

An alternative packaging technique is the so called “2.5D IC”, in whichplural IC chips are mounted on a silicon interposer. Theinterconnections between the various functional ICs and the siliconinterposer are made using microbumps (μ-bumps), which are typically onthe order of 15-50 micrometers. The μ-bumps are much smaller and morefragile than the solder bumps which are used to join an IC directly to apackage substrate. During wafer acceptance test and/or individual dietesting, the μ-bumps may be directly accessed by a probe card fortesting. There is thus a potential for the μ-bumps to be damaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B show a contactless communication structure having aferromagnetic core.

FIG. 2 shows a contactless communication structure having twoferromagnetic cores.

FIG. 3 shows a contactless communication structure having twoferromagnetic cores.

FIG. 4A-4B show a contactless communication structure having a thin filmferromagnetic core.

FIG. 5 show a contactless communication structure having anasymmetrically located ferromagnetic core.

FIG. 6 show a contactless communication structure having a symmetricallylocated ferromagnetic core.

FIG. 7 shows a stacked structure having plural coils and ferromagneticcores.

FIG. 8 shows a stacked structure having plural coils and a ferromagneticcore.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show a structure having a semiconductor coil, anexternal coil and a magnetic core.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show another structure having a semiconductor coil, anexternal coil and a magnetic core.

FIG. 11 shows another stacked structure having plural coils and aferromagnetic core.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a method for forming a package having aferromagnetic core for contactless communication.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of an alternative method for forming a packagehaving a ferromagnetic core for contactless communication.

FIGS. 14A-14G are diagrams showing various options for locating theferromagnetic core within a stack of substrates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be consideredpart of the entire written description. In the description, relativeterms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,”“below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof(e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should beconstrued to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown inthe drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenienceof description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed oroperated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments,coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” referto a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to oneanother either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, aswell as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unlessexpressly described otherwise.

An alternative technique for communications among the various ICs in astacked package is the use of contactless (wireless) connections. Forexample, a planar coil having one or more turns may be formed in theback end of line (BEOL) interconnect layers of each of the substrates.The respective coils in two aligned substrates have a mutual inductancethat allows transfer of electromagnetic radiation between them. In otherembodiments, there are other types of non-planar coil structureson-chip. For example, the coil may be in the form of a helix formed inmultiple metal layers. The helix may include, for example, a pluralityof open rectangles or octagons having their ends in adjacent layersconnected by conductive vias. Similarly, an inductor on a first IC(packaged or unpackaged) may provide contactless communication to anexternal second inductor, which may also be packaged or unpackaged.

A larger mutual inductance improves the signal and power transferringquality and efficiency of a pair of inductors. Two options forincreasing mutual inductance are to increase: (1) the number of turns inthe inductors and/or (2) the size of each turn. Both of these optionsmay increase the inductor area relative to smaller coils. For 3D ICapplication, coil-to-coil distance is mainly determined by chipthickness. In some circumstances, it may be possible to locate the coilscloser to each other (e.g., by thinning the back face of one of thesubstrates during processing), but in other embodiments, the thicknessof the substrate is constrained (for example, to maintain at least apredetermined substrate thickness to avoid substrate cracking). Largercoils reduce the number of coils that can be located in a given area,and channel count is limited.

In some embodiments described below, mutual inductance is increased byincluding one or more cores of a ferromagnetic material within a 3D ICor 2.5D IC package. In various embodiments, the inclusion of a core offerromagnetic material may increase the mutual inductance between coilsin two adjacent substrates by about 30%, relative to an otherwisesimilar configuration without the ferromagnetic material. In variousembodiments, ferromagnetic materials may be included on at least one ICchip to improve inductor's performance for power delivery and/or signalcommunication. The at least one IC may be packaged or unpackaged. Theferromagnetic material improves the performance of contactlesscommunication which is established by magnetic coupling between coils.The second coil may be on a second chip, or may be a discrete coil thatis not formed as part of an IC.

FIGS. 1-6 are schematic diagrams showing examples of relative locationsamong a first (bottom) coil, a second (top) coil, and a mass offerromagnetic material. In some embodiments, the coils and ferromagneticmaterial are contained with a package (e.g., a 3D IC package or a 2.5DIC package. Other elements of the packages (e.g., the semiconductorsubstrates) are omitted from FIGS. 1-6, for ease of viewing. In otherembodiments, the first IC having the first coil may be unpackaged (e.g.,for directly probing a bare-die); and the second coil may either beincluded on a packaged or unpackaged second IC or a discrete inductor.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show an embodiment of a communications structure 100,comprising: a first (bottom) coil 102, a second (top) coil 104 above thefirst coil, and a mass of ferromagnetic material 106. The coils areincluded with respective semiconductor substrates (described below withreference to FIGS. 7 and 8).

The inner edges of the first and second coils 102, 104 define a boundary110 of a volume 112 that extends below the first coil 102 and above thesecond coil 104.

A ferromagnetic core 106 is positioned at least partially within theboundary 110, such that a mutual inductance is provided between thefirst and second coils 102, 104 for wireless transmission of signals orpower between the first and second coils.

In some embodiments, the ferromagnetic core 106 comprises at least oneof the group consisting of CoFe, CoFeB, NiFe, and NiFeCo. Alternatively,other ferromagnetic materials may be used.

Although FIG. 1A shows rectangular windings, the windings may be of anyshape (e.g., circular, octagonal or the like).

FIGS. 1A and 1B show an example in which the ferromagnetic core 106 isentirely contained between the coils, above the top of the bottom coil102 and below the bottom of the top coil 104. FIG. 1A is an isometricview, and FIG. 1B is a side elevation view.

In other embodiments, the top of the core 106 is above the top surfaceof the top coil 104. In some embodiments, the bottom of the core 106 isbelow the bottom surface of the bottom coil 102. The core 106 may extendlaterally (in FIG. 1B, left, right, into the page or out of the page)beyond the boundary 110 of the volume 112.

For example, FIG. 2 shows another example, in which a respective core206 a, 206 b is provided for each respective coil 104, 102. These cores206 a, 206 b are thin relative to the core of FIGS. 1A, 1B. Theferromagnetic cores 206 a, 206 b have a thickness greater than athickness of the first coil 102.

In FIG. 2, each core 206 a, 206 b extends above and below its respectivecoil 104, 102, asymmetrically. In FIG. 2, the cores 206 a, 206 b extendfurther below their respective coils 104, 102 than they extend above thecoils (i.e., the centroids of the cores are below the coils).

In other embodiments, the cores 206 a, 206 b extend further above theirrespective coils 104, 102 than they extend below the coils (i.e., thecentroids of the cores are above the coils). In some embodiments, thecentroid of core 206 a is below the coil 104, and the centroid of core206 b is above the coil 102, so that a larger portion of theferromagnetic material is located between the coils 104, 102 than islocated above the top coil 104 or below the bottom coil 102. In otherembodiments, the centroid of core 206 a is above the coil 104, and thecentroid of core 206 b is below the coil 102, so that a smaller portionof the ferromagnetic material is located between the coils 104, 102 thanis located above the top coil 104 or below the bottom coil 102.

FIG. 3 shows another example, in which respective cores 206 a, 206 b areprovided for each respective coil 104, 102. In the example of FIG. 3,each of the cores 206 a, 206 b is contained entirely within the volumebounded by the inner boundary 110 of the coils 104, 102 and the planecontaining each of the coils. Further, both cores 206 a, 206 b are abovethe top of bottom coil 102 and below the bottom of top coil 104. Withtwo coils 104, 102 having two thin ferromagnetic cores 206 a, 206 b inbetween, the shielding effect may be used to control the magnetic fluxdirection by arranging the location of the cores.

FIGS. 4A and 4B shows an example in which a core 406 b is containedentirely within the inner boundary 110 of the coil 102, and has athickness less than or equal to the thickness of the coil 102. Boththese trenches can be etched to the same depth. In some embodiments,there is only a single coil 102 within the package, for connectionlesscommunication to an external device. Although only one of the coils 102and its respective core 406 b are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, another coiland core (not shown) can be configured in the same way within thepackage. Thus, the core 406 b of FIG. 4A may be included within a singleone of the coils 102, or in both of the coils 102, 104. In otherembodiments, the core 406 b may be included in more than two coils, ifthree or more coils are included.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a structure 500 in which the topferromagnetic core 206 a is entirely above the plane of the top coil104. In some embodiments, there is only a single coil 104 within thepackage, such as, but not limited to providing connectionlesscommunication to an external device. For example, a single core may beused for single inductor applications such as LC-tank or phased lockloop (PLL), to improve inductor performance. In other applications, aferromagnetic core may be provided for improving other aspects ofon-chip inductor performance.

Ferromagnetic cores can be used as magnetic shields reducing undesirablecross-talkIn other embodiments, another (bottom) ferromagnetic core (notshown) is entirely below the plane of the bottom coil 102.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a structure 600 in which the ferromagneticcore 606 b is located symmetrically (in the vertical direction) withrespect to the bottom coil 102, with the centroid of the core 606 bsubstantially at the same height as the centroid of the coil 102. Insome embodiments, there is only a single coil 102 within the package,for connectionless communication to an external device. In otherembodiments, another (top) ferromagnetic core (not shown) issymmetrically arranged about the plane of the top coil 104.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a chip stack 700 including the abovedescribed structure for wireless (connectionless) communication betweenchips.

The stack 700 includes a first chip 710 including a first semiconductorsubstrate 701 having a first coil 102. A second chip 720 includes asecond semiconductor substrate 721 having a second coil 104, above thefirst semiconductor substrate 701. In some embodiments, a third IC chip730 includes a third semiconductor substrate 731 having a third coil735, below the first semiconductor substrate 701. In some embodiments,the first semiconductor substrate 701, second semiconductor substrate721 and third substrate 731 are all integrated circuit dies housedwithin a single 3D communications structure. In other embodiments, item730 is a semiconductor (e.g., silicon) interposer having a thirdsemiconductor substrate 731 and a third coil 735 and the substrates 701,721, 731 are housed within a single 2.5D communications structure (whichmay include other dies, not shown, on the interposer 731).

Each substrate 701, 721, 731 has a respective interconnect structure702, 722 and 732, respectively, including conductive circuit patternsand vias (not shown). Each interconnect structure 702, 722, 732 includesa plurality of back end of line (BEOL) inter-metal dielectric (IMD)layers. Each coil 102, 104, 735 is formed in a respective IMD layer overits respective substrate 701, 721, 731. Each chip 710, 720, 730 has arespective passivation layer 703, 723, 733 above its interconnectstructure 702, 722, 732.

Inner edges 110 of the first coil 102 and second coil 104 define aboundary of a volume that extends below the first coil 102 and above thesecond coil 104.

A ferromagnetic core 106 is positioned at least partially within theboundary 110, such that a mutual inductance is provided between thefirst coil 102 and second coil 104 for wireless transmission of signalsor power between the first and second coils 102, 104. The core 106 maybe any of the cores described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. InFIG. 7, the core 106 is the same as the core shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B,and its description is not repeated.

In FIG. 7, the core 106 is entirely contained within chip 720. Toprovide the core 106, an opening is formed (e.g., by drilling oretching) from the back-side of chip 720. The opening may have a varietyof depths and sizes. The ferromagnetic material of core 106 may beprovided in the opening by a bulk fill process, or by forming an insert106 made of the material, and placing the insert in the opening.

In the example of FIG. 7, a second ferromagnetic core 206 b is providedover the first substrate 701. In this example, the core 206 b is arelatively thin core similar to the cores 206 b (FIG. 2). Alternatively,the core 206 b in FIG. 7 may be replaced with a core similar to thoseshown in FIG. 4A or FIG. 5. In some embodiments, the core 206 b may beformed using a similar deposition process step (e.g., sputtering oretching) to that used for depositing a thin film of ferromagneticmaterial in the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) of a magnetoresistiverandom access memory (MRAM).

Additionally, the first substrate 701 may have a ferromagnetic core 706in its back face for improving the mutual inductance between the firstcoil 102 and the third coil 735. In this example, the core 706 isentirely contained within the back face of the first die 102, below thebottom of coil 102 and above the top of the third coil 735. A portion ofthe ferromagnetic core 706 extends beyond an outer edge of at least oneof the group consisting of the first winding and the second winding. Inthe example of FIG. 7, the core 706 extends laterally (left and right)past the boundary 110 defined by the inner edges of coils 102 and 735.

In the example of FIG. 7, the third substrate 731 has an additionalferromagnetic core 738 formed in the interconnect layers above thesubstrate. Like the core 706, the core 738 extends laterally (left andright) past the boundary 110 defined by the inner edges of coils 102 and735. In the case of core 738, the core is formed entirely within one ofthe BEOL IMD layers of the interconnect structure 732. Core 738 alsoprovides an example of a ferromagnetic core that is located below thebottom coil 735, so that the core 738 is not positioned between theheights of coils 102 and 735.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of another example of a communicationsstructure 800. In FIG. 8, a first substrate 801 may be a bottom chip ina 3D IC system. Alternatively, substrate 801 may be a semiconductor(silicon) interposer in a 2.5D system. Substrate 801 has an interconnectstructure 802 comprising metal-containing IMD layers and via-containingIMD layers formed over the substrate. A passivation layer 803 is formedover the interconnect structure 802. The first coil 102 is formed withinthe interconnect structure 802, for example in the top IMD layer.

The second substrate 821 is the substrate of an IC chip 825. Substrate821 has an interconnect structure 822 comprising metal-containing IMDlayers and via-containing IMD layers formed over the substrate. Apassivation layer 823 is formed over the interconnect structure 822. Thesecond coil 104 is formed in the interconnect structure 822. AlthoughFIG. 8 only shows two substrates 801 and 821, one or more additional ICsmay be stacked above the passivation layer 823.

In the example of FIG. 8, the ferromagnetic core 805 extends completelythrough the IC chip 825, from the front face to the back face of thechip. The opening in which the ferromagnetic material 805 is depositedmay be formed by a process that forms an opening for a TSV.Alternatively, the opening may be drilled. The second coil 104 is aconductive pattern formed as part of a second interconnect structure 822above the second semiconductor substrate 821, and the ferromagnetic core805 is partially contained in the second semiconductor substrate 821within the boundary 110. The ferromagnetic core 805 is at leastpartially contained in an inter-metal dielectric layer of the secondinterconnect structure 822. The ferromagnetic core 805 is at leastpartially contained in a passivation layer 823 above the secondinterconnect structure 822. The core 805 includes a first portion 806within the second substrate 821, a second portion 807 within the IMDlayers of the interconnect structure, and a third portion 808 within thepassivation layer 823.

In some embodiments, an opening is formed through the substrate 821, IMDlayers of interconnect structure 822 and the passivation layer 823 in asingle step by etching or drilling. Then the ferromagnetic material isapplied in a bulk fill process.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are only examples. The ferromagnetic cores may be used toimprove mutual inductance between coils in any combination of IC chipsand silicon interposers.

Although the core 805 terminates at the top surface of the passivationlayer 823, in other embodiments, the core 805 extends upward beyond thetop surface of passivation layer 823. This may improve mutual inductancebetween the coil 104 and another coil (not shown) external to the ICpackage in which the stack 800 is contained.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show an example of a structure comprising: a firstsemiconductor substrate 901 having a first planar coil 102; and a secondcoil 904 located apart from the first substrate. A ferromagnetic core906 is positioned at least partially between the first coil 102 and thesecond coil 904. The ferromagnetic core 906 has a first portion on thefirst coil 102 and a second portion inside or adjacent the second coil904. The first coil 102 and second coil 904 having a mutual inductancefor wireless transmission of signals or power between the first andsecond coils.

In structure 900, the second coil 904 is located external to the ICpackage in which the first coil 102 is to be installed. The first coil102 is contained in an IC chip 901. The second coil 904 may be a helicalcoil as shown, or may be configured differently. For example, the second(off-chip) coil may alternatively be flat coil in a second IC package(not shown). A mass 906 of ferromagnetic material is provided along thepath of magnetic flux. For example, the ferromagnetic material may be inthe region 910 between the first coil 102 and the second coil 904. Theferromagnetic material may be inside the second coil 904. In the exampleof FIGS. 9A and 9B, the IC chip 901 is mounted over a plate 908 offerromagnetic material, and the mass 906 of magnetic material extendssubstantially continuously from the first coil 102 to, through and pastthe second coil 904, to connect with the plate 908. The ferromagneticmass 906 begins a distance above the IC chip 901, where the distancedepends on the packing of IC chip 901. The ferromagnetic mass 906 formsthe pole and arms of a magnetic circuit.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show another example of a structure 1000 in which thesecond coil 904 is located external to the IC package in which the firstcoil 102 is to be installed. The first coil 102 is contained in an ICchip 901. The second coil 904 may be a helical coil as shown, or may beconfigured differently. A mass 1006 of ferromagnetic material isprovided along the path of magnetic flux, in a closed magnetic loopconfiguration. The mass 1006 of magnetic material extends substantiallycontinuously from above the first coil 102 to, through and past thesecond coil 904, to the bottom of the IC chip 901. The ferromagneticmass 906 forms the pole and arms of a magnetic circuit.

Thus, flux direction can be controlled by properly arranging theferromagnetic cores. Core size, location, counts, distributions, andmaterial type may all be configured for a particular application.

FIG. 11 shows another example, in which a chip stack has a plurality offerromagnetic cores, and connectionless communication is provided to anexternal semiconductor assembly 1120 (e.g., a piece of test equipment).

The first chip stack 1100 includes a first substrate 1101 having a firstcoil 102, a first ferromagnetic core 1106 and a second ferromagneticcore 1107. A second substrate 1111 has a second coil 104 and aferromagnetic core 106. The first and second substrates 1101, 1111 arealigned and packaged. The external assembly 1120 includes a substrate1121 having a coil 1102 and a ferromagnetic core 1126, which extendsinto the substrate 1121 and extends outwardly from the front face ofassembly 1120.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a method for including a ferromagnetic corein a connectionless communication system to improve the mutualinductance between coils.

At step 1202, a first semiconductor substrate having a first coil isformed, for example using a CMOS process. For example, in oneembodiment, the first semiconductor substrate has a front face and aback face, with a first interconnect structure on the front face, andthe first coil is a part of the first interconnect structure.

At step 1204, an opening is formed in the front face (or back face, orboth front and back faces) of the first substrate.

At step 1206, a second semiconductor substrate is formed, having asecond coil. The second substrate is to be placed over the firstsemiconductor substrate. For example, in one embodiment, the secondsemiconductor substrate has an active face and a back face, with asecond interconnect structure on the active face, wherein the secondcoil is a part of the second interconnect structure, and the back faceof the second semiconductor substrate faces the front face of the firstsemiconductor substrate. In other embodiments, the front face of thesecond substrate faces the front face of the first substrate, and thefirst and second coils are formed on the front side of each of the firstand second substrates. In other embodiments, the back face of the secondsubstrate faces the back face of the first substrate, and the first andsecond coils are formed on the back side of each of the first and secondsubstrates.

At step 1208, an opening is formed in the back face (or front face orboth back and front faces) of the second substrate.

At step 1210, the openings are filled with a ferromagnetic material toform a ferromagnetic core at least partially located within a volumealong which inner edges of the first and second coils lie, so as toincrease a mutual inductance between the first and second coils forwireless transmission of signals or power. For example, in oneembodiment, the step of providing the ferromagnetic cores includesforming a film of a ferromagnetic material inside the inner edge of thefirst coil; and providing a second ferromagnetic core, including formingan opening in the back face of the second semiconductor substrate, andfilling the opening with the ferromagnetic material. In otherembodiments, the film is positioned at other locations besides the inneredge of the first coil. In various embodiments, the film may be anywhereon the substrate.

In some embodiments, step 1210 includes forming a ferromagnetic film inan inter-metal dielectric layer during a complementary metal oxidesemiconductor (CMOS) back end of line process. For example, a processstep of the type used for forming a magnetic tunnel junction in amagnetoresistive RAM (MRAM) may be used.

At step 1212, the first and second substrates are aligned, so that thefirst and second coils are in appropriate alignment with each other forconnectionless communication. For example in some embodiments, a windingof the IC die (second substrate) overlies a winding of the siliconinterposer (first substrate).

At step 1214, the first and second semiconductor substrates and theferromagnetic core are packaged in a single package.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a variation of the method of FIG. 12.

At step 1302, a first semiconductor substrate having a first coil isformed, for example using a CMOS process. For example, in oneembodiment, the first semiconductor substrate has a front face and aback face, with a first interconnect structure on the front face, andthe first coil is a part of the first interconnect structure. In otherembodiments, a ferromagnetic core can also be placed in the firstsemiconductor. For example, a trench may be formed in the front or backside of the bulk silicon of the first semiconductor substrate, and thetrench filled with the ferromagnetic material.

At step 1304, a second semiconductor substrate is formed, having asecond coil. The second substrate is to be placed over the firstsemiconductor substrate. For example, in one embodiment, the secondsemiconductor substrate has an active face and a back face, with asecond interconnect structure on the active face, wherein the secondcoil is a part of the second interconnect structure, and the back faceof the second semiconductor substrate faces the front face of the firstsemiconductor substrate. In other embodiments, the front face of thesecond substrate faces the front face of the first substrate, and thefirst and second coils are formed on the front side of each of the firstand second substrates. In other embodiments, the back face of the secondsubstrate faces the back face of the first substrate, and the first andsecond coils are formed on the back side of each of the first and secondsubstrates.

At step 1306, an opening is formed extending through an entire thicknessof the second semiconductor substrate from an interconnect structure ona first face of the second semiconductor substrate to a back face of thesecond semiconductor substrate.

At step 1308, the opening is filled with a ferromagnetic material toform a ferromagnetic core at least partially located within a volumealong which inner edges of the first and second coils lie.

At step 1310, the first and second substrates are aligned, so that thefirst and second coils are in appropriate alignment with each other forconnectionless communication. For example in some embodiments, a windingof the IC die (second substrate) overlies a winding of the siliconinterposer (first substrate).

At step 1312, the first and second semiconductor substrates and theferromagnetic core are packaged in a single package.

The one or more ferromagnetic cores can be any number at any locationwith any size. FIGS. 14A-14G provide an example of a stack havingthree-substrates 1401, 1402 and 1403. FIGS. 14A-14C show examples inwhich the core 106 can be located in any of the three substrates. FIGS.14D-14F show examples in which the cores 106 can be located in any twoof the three substrates 1401-1403. FIG. 14G is an example in which thecores 106 are located in all three substrates 1401-1403. In a stackhaving more than three substrates, the ferromagnetic core(s) may beincluded in any one or more the substrates in the stack.

Various embodiments described above increase the mutual inductancebetween two coils, permitting connectionless communication with areduced number of TSVs and microbumps. For example, the structure andmethod may be used for 2.5D and 3D Stacked IC applications, forchip-to-chip contactless communication, contactless signal probing andpower supplying.

In some embodiments, a communications structure, comprises a firstsemiconductor substrate having a first coil, and a second semiconductorsubstrate having a second coil above the first semiconductor substrate.Inner edges of the first and second coils define a boundary of a volumethat extends below the first coil and above the second coil. Aferromagnetic core is positioned at least partially within the boundary,such that a mutual inductance is provided between the first and secondcoils for wireless transmission of signals or power between the firstand second coils.

In some embodiments, a structure comprises a first semiconductorsubstrate having a first coil. A ferromagnetic core has a first portioninside or adjacent the first coil.

In some embodiments, a method comprises providing a first semiconductorsubstrate having a first coil. A second semiconductor substrate isprovided having a second coil over the first semiconductor substrate. Aferromagnetic core is provided, at least partially located within avolume along which inner edges of the first and second coils lie, so asto increase a mutual inductance between the first and second coils forwireless transmission of signals or power.

Although the subject matter has been described in terms of exemplaryembodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claimsshould be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments,which may be made by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communications structure, comprising: a firstsemiconductor substrate having a first coil, and a second semiconductorsubstrate having a second coil above the first semiconductor substrate,wherein inner edges of the first and second coils define a boundary of avolume that extends below the first coil and above the second coil; anda ferromagnetic core positioned at least partially within the boundary,such that a mutual inductance is provided between the first and secondcoils for wireless transmission of signals or power between the firstand second coils.
 2. The communications structure of claim 1, wherein:the first semiconductor substrate and second semiconductor substratesare both integrated circuit dies housed within a single 3Dcommunications structure.
 3. The communications structure of claim 1,wherein: the first semiconductor substrate is a silicon interposer, andthe second semiconductor substrate is an integrated circuit die and thefirst and second substrate are both housed within a single 2.5Dcommunications structure.
 4. The communications structure of claim 1,wherein the second coil is a conductive pattern formed in an inter-metaldielectric layer above the second semiconductor substrate, and theferromagnetic core is at least partially contained in the secondsemiconductor substrate within the boundary.
 5. The communicationsstructure of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic core is partly orcompletely contained in a bulk semiconductor material of the first orsecond semiconductor substrate.
 6. The communications structure of claim1, wherein the first coil is a conductive pattern formed as part of afirst interconnect structure above the first semiconductor substrate,and the ferromagnetic core is at least partially contained in aninter-metal dielectric layer of the first interconnect structure.
 7. Thecommunications structure of claim 1, wherein the first coil is aconductive pattern formed as part of a first interconnect structureabove the first semiconductor substrate, and the ferromagnetic core isat least partially contained in a passivation layer above the firstinterconnect structure.
 8. The communications structure of claim 1,wherein the second coil is a conductive pattern formed as part of asecond interconnect structure above the second semiconductor substrate,the ferromagnetic core is partially contained in the secondsemiconductor substrate within the boundary, the ferromagnetic core ispartially contained in an inter-metal dielectric layer of the secondinterconnect structure, and the ferromagnetic core is partiallycontained in a passivation layer above the second interconnectstructure.
 9. The communications structure of claim 8, wherein theferromagnetic core has a thickness greater than a thickness of the firstcoil.
 10. The communications structure of claim 1, wherein theferromagnetic core comprises one of the group consisting of CoFe, CoFeB,NiFe, and NiFeCo.
 11. The structure of claim 1, wherein a portion of theferromagnetic core extends beyond an outer edge of at least one of thegroup consisting of the first winding and the second winding.
 12. Astructure comprising: a first semiconductor substrate having a firstcoil, a ferromagnetic core having a first portion inside or adjacent thefirst coil; a second substrate having a second coil located apart fromthe first substrate, the first and second coils having a mutualinductance for wireless transmission of signals or power between thefirst and second coils, wherein the ferromagnetic core is positioned atleast partially between the first coil and the second coil, theferromagnetic core having a second portion inside or adjacent the secondcoil.
 13. The communications structure of claim 1, wherein theferromagnetic core extends completely through the second semiconductorsubstrate, from a front face thereof to a back face thereof.
 14. Thecommunication structure of claim 13, further comprising: an interconnectstructure above the second semiconductor substrate; and a passivationlayer above the interconnect structure, wherein the ferromagnetic coreextends to a top surface of the passivation layer.
 15. Thecommunications structure of claim 14, wherein a bottom surface of theferromagnetic core is above a top surface of a passivation layer overthe first semiconductor substrate, and the first coil is located belowthe passivation layer over the first semiconductor substrate.
 16. Thecommunications structure of claim 15, wherein a top surface of theferromagnetic core parallel to a plane of the second substrate extendsnearly from a first inner edge of the second coil to a second inner edgeof the second coil opposite the first inner edge.
 17. The communicationsstructure of claim 12, wherein the ferromagnetic core extends completelythrough the first semiconductor substrate, from a front face thereof toa back face thereof.
 18. The communication structure of claim 17,further comprising: an interconnect structure above the firstsemiconductor substrate; and a passivation layer above the interconnectstructure, wherein the ferromagnetic core extends to a top surface ofthe passivation layer.
 19. The communications structure of claim 18,wherein a bottom surface of the ferromagnetic core is above a topsurface of a passivation layer over the second semiconductor substrate,and the second coil is located below the passivation layer over a secondsemiconductor substrate having the second coil.
 20. The communicationsstructure of claim 12, wherein the ferromagnetic core is at least partlycontained between the first coil and the second coil.
 21. Thecommunications structure of claim 12, wherein: the second coil isincluded over the second semiconductor substrate; and the firstsemiconductor substrate and second semiconductor substrates are bothintegrated circuit dies housed within a single 3D communicationsstructure.